A Smithsonian Experience

A Seriously Amazing Smithsonian Experience in Washington

Aircraft on display at the National Air and Space Museum. Photo by Cybjorg at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.5

Watch a young woman reading the caption on a glass case exhibit, her face ghoulishly lit from below, and witness a would-be history studying her past. Tear through a hall of wonder, gaze at old masterpieces in modern frames, rediscover man and his science, and, in the process, lose all sense of time. It’s an amazing Smithsonian experience at the world’s largest museum complex and research organization, the Smithsonian Institution. Admission is free, and they mean business when they adopted the tagline “seriously amazing”.

Before British scientist James Smithson passed away in 1829, he willed his entire legacy to the United States Government for a cause he summed up as “the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men”. The Smithsonian Museums are the most widely known part of the United States’ Smithsonian Institution. Seventeen, out of the nineteen museums and galleries, are based in Washington D.C., with eleven located on the massive National Mall. Sandwiched between the Lincoln Memorial and the United States Capitol, each museum will capture your attention, no matter how or where you stand to look at it.

The “Castle” (1847), the Institution’s first building and still its headquarters.

Not until later do you really start to absorb what you see. The Smithsonian Museums in Washington D.C. have unsurpassed collections that include African-American culture (Anacostia Community Museum, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of African Art), Asian art (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Freer Gallery of Art), and design and innovation (Arts and Industries Building).

There is also a building for contemporary and modern art (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden), and you will be amazed at the endless display of artistic philosophies that exude different colors, texture and mood. Add to your already packed schedule a trip down American history and culture (National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, Renwick Gallery), natural history (National Museum of Natural History), portraiture (National Portrait Gallery), and US postal service history (National Postal Museum).

Kids will definitely enjoy the interactive activities that zero in on aviation and spaceflight history (National Air and Space Museum) and folk arts (Smithsonian American Art Museum). See their faces glow with excitement as they watch hundreds of live animals in a zoo (National Zoological Park at Rock Creek Park) that includes the Tiger Tracks, Amazonia Science Gallery, and Reptile Discovery Center.

Most museums are open seven days a week from 10am to 5:30pm. It would take a week to go through all collections. If you only have a day or two to spend at the nation’s capital, it is best to check out the Smithsonian website (www.si.edu) so you can go over maps and featured events. Consider putting on your most comfortable shoes for this tour.

National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution and does not charge admission. Photo by Quadell, CC BY-SA 3.0

At the Smithsonian Museums, you will discover a piece of humanity in old objects. But there is more to it than just collecting and hoarding many of the world’s objects just to build an archive. Listen to your footsteps echoing on the marble floors. Every step wakes up the dead who, through waves and energy, outshine time to turn themselves into space. There is a silent poetry in these museums that transforms individual meaning into a purpose everyone can share.

Once you visit the Smithsonian and see some of the museums and exhibits you will agree is an Amazing Smithsonian Experience

Quiz #68 An Amazing Smithsonian Experience

Quiz-summary

Information

This Travel Quiz is about An Amazing Smithsonian Experience. This is a True or False quiz. The level of this quiz is easy.

Answer all questions. Each answer is worth about 20 points. If you don’t know the answer, then take a guess (unless you want a guaranteed zero for the answer).

This test is timed (3 min) so be aware of that.

You might want to visit The Smithsonian museums if you are in the Washington D.C. area. You cannot see it all in one day, but consider taking one of the many tours available to make the most of your time.

Established in 1846 by a scientist named James Smithson, The Smithsonian is the largest museum and research complex in the world, with over 10 million visitors every year, and nearly 137 million specimens and artifacts.

American Trivia “On The Street”: Smithsonian Institution (Ep.3)

Watch host, Linda Maxwell, interview American tourists “On The Street” of beautiful Victoria, British Columbia on their knowledge of American Trivia. Where is the famous Smithsonian Institution? What’s your recollection of American Indians in South Dakota? Who was the highest grossing actor in the 20th century? Questions are borrowed from OUTSeT’s board game, American Trivia Family Edition’s Junior and Expert level, which can now be found at the Smithsonian Gift Shop. Subscribe to the Channel if you learned something!

Smithsonian Tours By Segway

We are the only Segway® PT Tour to partner with the Smithsonian® Institution. Our excursion departs directly from the National Mall and we can show you DC in a way that no other tour can! For more information click the link to the video above.

Big news in the Extra-Terrestrial Disclosure field occurred on Monday March 26th, 2012 when the National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada (in association with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.) unveiled to the public what they claim is an “Authentic Alien Artifact” from the “Russian Roswell” UFO crash in the 1980's. This was shown as part of the new “Area 51” exhibit at the National Atomic Testing Museum, which opened on this day.

Commentators speculate that this is another in a series of actions by official governmental personnel and organizations to disclose the existence of UFOs and Extra-Terrestrial beings to the general public. This is potentially in preparation for a "Contact Event" with visitors from other worlds, which may occur in the near future.

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Answered

Review

Question 1 of 10

1. Question

10 points

Category: Attractions

The Smithsonian Museums are the most widely known part of the United States’ Smithsonian Institution. T/F

True

False

Correct

Incorrect

Question 2 of 10

2. Question

10 points

Before British scientist James Smithson passed away in 1829, he willed his entire legacy to the United States Government which ultimately became the Smithsonian Institution. T/F

True

False

Correct

Incorrect

Question 3 of 10

3. Question

10 points

The missing element in Smithsonian Museums are old objects and treasured pieces. T/F

True

False

Correct

False – At the Smithsonian Museums, you will discover a piece of humanity in old objects.

Incorrect

False – At the Smithsonian Museums, you will discover a piece of humanity in old objects.

Question 4 of 10

4. Question

10 points

The Smithsonian Museums in Washington D.C. have unsurpassed collections that include African-American culture, Asian art, and design and innovation. T/F

True

False

Correct

True – The Smithsonian Museums in Washington D.C. have unsurpassed collections that include African-American culture (Anacostia Community Museum, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of African Art), Asian art (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Freer Gallery of Art), and design and innovation (Arts and Industries Building).

Incorrect

True – The Smithsonian Museums in Washington D.C. have unsurpassed collections that include African-American culture (Anacostia Community Museum, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of African Art), Asian art (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Freer Gallery of Art), and design and innovation (Arts and Industries Building).

Question 5 of 10

5. Question

10 points

Because the institution is old and lacking interactive activities an initiative is in place to get a limited range of interactive activities. T/F

True

False

Correct

False – Kids will definitely enjoy the interactive activities that zero in on aviation and spaceflight history and folk arts.

Incorrect

False – Kids will definitely enjoy the interactive activities that zero in on aviation and spaceflight history and folk arts.

Question 6 of 10

6. Question

10 points

It is unfortunate that nowhere in the institutions is anything on American history or the American Indians. T/F

True

False

Correct

False – schedule a trip down American history and culture (National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, Renwick Gallery), and natural history (National Museum of Natural History).

Incorrect

False – schedule a trip down American history and culture (National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, Renwick Gallery), and natural history (National Museum of Natural History).

Question 7 of 10

7. Question

10 points

If the Smithsonian Institution had some live animals it would be more complete. T/F .

True

False

Correct

False – See the children’s faces glow with excitement as they watch hundreds of live animals in a zoo (National Zoological Park at Rock Creek Park) that includes the Tiger Tracks, Amazonia Science Gallery, and Reptile Discovery Center

Incorrect

False – See the children’s faces glow with excitement as they watch hundreds of live animals in a zoo (National Zoological Park at Rock Creek Park) that includes the Tiger Tracks, Amazonia Science Gallery, and Reptile Discovery Center

Question 8 of 10

8. Question

10 points

There is even a building for contemporary and modern art. T/F

True

False

Correct

True – There is also a building for contemporary and modern art (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden)

Incorrect

True – There is also a building for contemporary and modern art (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden)

Question 9 of 10

9. Question

10 points

The Smithsonian Institution the world’s largest museum complex and research organization. T/F

True

False

Correct

True – Lose all sense of time at the world’s largest museum complex and research organization, the Smithsonian Institution.

Incorrect

True – Lose all sense of time at the world’s largest museum complex and research organization, the Smithsonian Institution.

Question 10 of 10

10. Question

10 points

Seven out of the nineteen museums and galleries, are based in Washington D.C. T/F

True

False

Correct

False – Seventeen, out of the nineteen museums and galleries, are based in Washington D.C., with eleven located on the massive National Mall.

Incorrect

False – Seventeen, out of the nineteen museums and galleries, are based in Washington D.C., with eleven located on the massive National Mall.